April 2012 Auction Ends Monday, April 30th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/30/2012
Lot of three Civil War letters by Harlow J. Hem of the 100th Indiana Infantry, Co. C, who enlisted in August 1862. Letters to his wife Mat date from early 1863 to April 1865, shortly before he mustered out in June. First letter from Collierville, Tennessee reads in part, ''...We are having rather excitable times here yet. Last night from eight o'clock untill after ten, we were throwing up breastworks & then we went to bead or rather laid down buy our guns in line of batle...we were called out to guard some teams, six miles up the railroad...The telegraph brought favorable news for us last night from Vicksburg. It stated our men had taken their outside rifle pits & upward of sixty big guns...'' Letter dated early 1863 from Grand Junction, Tennessee reads in part, ''...I have made up my mind to send for Father if I should get very sick. I have no fears of death in any other way, though we look for a fight every day. They are now arrangeing our artilery...I have no thoughts as to when it will end any more...make up your mind how you would like to sea me home & called a desirter. You had beter think of it & give me your advise before it is to late, for when it gets bleasant this comeing spring I shal try hard to break the damnible bonds that binds me here...'' Letter dated 20 April 1865 from Camp Parrett, ''...To day it hapened that I had just got busyly engaged reading a love story...we have to stand...Heath's abuse again. He made a man cary a rail the other day 8 hours in the rain for fireing his gun in camp against the orders he had given...'' Lot includes 5'' x 7'' tintype identified on the verso as ''Our grandmother Hen / Martha Mix Hen / Dad's Mother''. Surface wear and creasing to corners of letters as well as paper loss to top left corners of four page letters, each measuring 5'' x 8''. Legible handwriting; overall in good condition.
Lot of Three Indiana Civil War Letters -- ''...we have to stand...Heath's abuse again. He made a man cary a rail the other day 8 hours in the rain for fireing his gun in camp...''
Click above for larger image.